UK Organic food sales soar
UK - A recent report suggests sales of organic food in the UK have doubled in five years and are worth £1.2bn a year.Researchers at Mintel, who conducted the survey, say the sales increase is being driven by concerns on health, the environment and food safety. Commenting that whilst affluent shoppers bought around the same amount of produce last year, sales are rising among lower-income consumers.
The survey found that of 1,519 people 29% say they never buy organic. Mintel added sales are likely to reach £2bn by 2010. Fruit and vegetables had sales of £442m this year, making up 37% of the total market.
But the biggest rise is in meat and poultry sales, which were up nearly 150% between 2000 and 2005. An estimated 26% of consumers had bought organic meat in the last 12 months, up from 19% in 2001.
Senior market analyst Julie Sloan commented: "Despite the fact that organic products account for little more than one percent of overall food and drink sales, there is no doubt that these products have joined the mainstream.
"Indeed, organic ranges are now available from all the major multiples, and the majority of households do buy organic food, even if some are only doing so occasionally."
Source: Food Marketing and Manufacturing